2003 TXT Troubleshooting help needed

[duhwhat]

I bought the cart today and the guy tells me it stumbles at first because the choke cable is missing and you have to manually choke it to get it to rev up.
So sure enough, he starts to back it up and it's puttering, so he lifts the seat, pulls up on the choke and it comes to life.
We drive it down the street and back and it runs good.
Great, good price and I can install a choke cable.
Well, I've got it home and that little diddy doesn't seem to work any more. It just turns over and over but won't 'pick up' any more. So I'm thinking fuel problem and plan to go through the fuel system tomorrow.
Two things I noticed right off:
1. The air filter box only has one clamp closure of the original three remaining. Probably getting more air than intended..
2. The clear fuel filter doesn't look like it's filling up so I'm also thinking fuel pump. (where ever that might be)

I'm new to gas carts but am fairly mechanical so hopefully I can follow any tips.

Basically I would welcome any trouble shooting process you might recommend to isolate the problem.

It has no ID on it so all I know is that the guy said it was 2003, it's gas and it say TXT on the dash panel.

Thanks

[StoveBolt]

You could check by pulling the line off the carb and see if it pumping, it's normal
that the fuel filter doesn't fill all the way and I doubt it's the air cleaner.

Are you pulling the choke all the way? they like
that on startup until they warm up a little.

[duhwhat]

Thanks StoveBolt, that would be the simple way to see about the fuel. Any other ideas about how to debug this?
It ran great for a short period but won't getty-up and go now.

Really, based on my golf experience, the choke shouldn't even be needed in warm weather.

[StoveBolt]

Have you tried closing the choke all the way then letting it warm up a little?

Also how old is the gas in it?

[duhwhat]

Originally Posted by StoveBolt

Have you tried closing the choke all the way then letting it warm up a little?

I think I have. I removed the seat and held the choke up for a while and it just keeps turning over with maybe one short rev up.

I'll see what fuel is coming through tomorrow.

thanks

[StoveBolt]

Good idea, they don't pump much just a little steady stream, also smell the gas to see
if it smells like turpentine, big problem for carts that have been sitting for a while.

[kgsc]

Probably need to adjust the valves but my 98 workhorse acts the same until it warms up. Are you giving it full throttle when turning over?

[duhwhat]

Originally Posted by kgsc

Probably need to adjust the valves but my 98 workhorse acts the same until it warms up. Are you giving it full throttle when turning over?

If depressing the gas pedal all the way is full throttle, I am...

I'll have to look into what's involved in adjusting the valves. Hope it's as easy as a VW Beetle. :)

It ran good a couple times, but now it won't run long enough to warm up.

[sccowboy]

If there's fuel spurting out of the line that connects to the carb then you can't go wrong trying the valves next. It's really easy to do. Look in the tech section of this site and you'll find a guide on the valve.

[my1423]

Change your spark plug and see if it will start.

As for needing choke, a thorough carb cleaning would be the next thing to check as well as stated about fuel pump can spurt out fuel.